Steam cleaning device



June 23, 1931. c. E. LUCKE STEAM CLEANING DEVICE Filed NOV. 26, 1927 a M INVENTOR Patented June 23, 1931 .OUNITEFD STATES CHARLES E. LUOKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE BABCOCK & WILCOX GO]!!- I'ANY, OF BAYONNE, .NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY STEAM CLEANING DEVICE- Appliqation filed November 26, 1927. Serial No. 235,813.

This invention relates to the removal of impurities from steam; and is especially useful in removing solids and liquids from steam as it passes from the steam spaceof a. v boiler to the superheater thereof. The in- 2 is a section on anenlarged scale showing 'a modification of the steam purifying device.

In the drawings reference character 5 in-.

dicates a boiler of the Babcock &' Wilcox type that is provided with the usualsteam and water drum 6 and a'superheater 7. A steam pipe 8 leads from the steam space of the drum 6 to the superheater and 'adirt trap or receptacle 10 is interposed in the'steam line 8. The receptacle 10 is provided with an extension 11 on its'lower side and a valved drain pipe or blow-off 12 is connected to the bottom thereof. A transverse bafile or plate 13 extends across the receptacle 10 and the lower edge thereof is below the normal water level in the extension 11. The water level in the extension may be maintained at the desired and enters this receptacle near the side of the screen or filter 14 toward the steam inlet into the receptacle 10. The receptacle 10 is located below the normal water level in the boiler so that water can flow from the boiler through the pipe 16 to the receptacle 10. V

The operation is as follows: Steam passes from the steam space of the steam and water drum 6 through the pipe 8 into the receptacle 10, and thence across the filter 14 where entrained solid particles are caught together with some of the drops of moisture that may be in the steam. The steam then passes through the filter 15 where more of the moisture is caught and trickles down into the lower portion of the receptacle 10. The water level is maintained in the extension 11 above the lower edge of the plate 13 so that the steam cannot pass below the edge of this plate. The valve in the pipe 16 may be opened at intervals'to permit boiler water from the drum 6 to wash the solids oil of the face of the screen 14 without interrupting the,

operation of the boiler, the dirty water bein Y permitted to pass out through the blow-o V pipe 12.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the pipe 20 from the steam space of the steam and water drum is provided with a by-pass valve 21 so that the steam will pass directly to the superheater when the valve 21 is opened and will pass to the steam cleaning device when this valve is closed. A branch pipe 22 provided with a valve 23 leads from the steam pipe 20 to the chamber or receptacle 24 that is provided with a bafile 25, the lower edge of which terminates short of the normal water level in the chamber 24. A valved blow-off pipe (not shown) is attached to the 'lower portion 26 of the receptacle 24. A

filter or screen 27 extends across the upper end of the chamber 24 and a spray nozzle 28 is located. above this filter. A pipe (not shown) leads boiler water to the spray nozzle 28 at desired intervals. Another filter 29 is provided in the pipe 30 leading from the chamber 24 back to the pipe 20 and a drain pipe 31 is provided near the lower edge of this filter on the front side thereof.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the steam passes through the branch 22 and under the bafiie 25 where some of the water is" removed and passes into the lower portion of the receptacle 24. Steam then asses throu h the filter 27 where solid partic es are caug t and the steam then passes through the filter 29 where moisture is caught and trickles downwardly and can be drained off through the valve 31, the steam then passing to the superheater. -When it is desired to clean the direction to the steam from which the particles'were deposited on the filter. .The solid particles are carried by" the water into the chamber 24 from the lower portion of which 5 they can be removed through the blowoff connection that is attached to the lower portion 26 of the chamber 24.

This invention is desirable because the steam entering a superheater should be kept free from impurities that might coat the inside of the superheater tubes. Also droplets of. water that may be entrained with the steam because of the boiler priming due to concentration of impurities. or other cause should be separated from the steam before it enters the superheater. In some cases sohds are discharged from superheaters with the steam and cause diflicult'ies in the working of the steam turbine receiving'the steam but by 2 my invention this is prevented through the removal of impurities before the superheater is reached.

I claim: 1. In a steam boiler, means for separating impurities from steam generated in said boilerfand removing them from the system, said means being located below the. water level of said boiler and comprising a connection to the water space of said boiler, said 3 connection being so connected to the separating means as to wash the impurities therefrom. V 2. In a boiler, a separator for separating impurities from steam, said separator being '35 located in the connection from the steam space of the boiler, said separator-comprising a filter located below the water level of-said boiler, and means for washing 'said filter with water from said boiler. I v 3. In a boiler having a superheater, a separator for separating impurities from steam, said separator being located below the water level in said boiler in the connection between the steam space of the boiler and the superheater, a water supply line from said boiler to said separator, and means to permit steam to enter said superheater without passing through said separator. p

4. In a boiler having a superheater,a separator for separating impurities from steam, said separator being located in the connection between the steam space of the boiler and the superheater at a point below the normal water level. in said boiler, and a connection between the water space of said boiler and said separator.

5. In a steam boiler having a steam and Water drum and a superheater, a separator for separating impurities from the steam ge'neratedin said boiler and removing them rom the system, said-separator being locatd between said drum and said superheater, and a connection between said separator and the water space of said boilerI .aa' QHARLES mean. 1 

